We're on the road to the 2026 World Cup and we're bringing you along for the journey, one story at a time. Introducing Route 26, a podcast speaking to extraordinary football lovers about their personal journeys and the World Cup moments that changed their lives. Hosted by Paolo Gallo - football coach, audio producer and football fanatic - this is more than just a podcast, this is where your 2026 World Cup journey begins.

Australia’s move from Oceania to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 was seen as a strategic decision on the pitch. But for many communities across the country, it marked the beginning of a deeper connection with the game. Today we hear from Yumi Oba, Executive Producer of SBS Japanese, lifelong football fan and devoted soccer mum. Yumi talks about her journey from Japan to Australia and shares how football has shaped her sense of belonging. From her early memories of sport in Japan to the evolution of football across Asia, Yumi reflects on how the game became woven into her family's life-and into the fabric of who she is.

Route 26

Yumi Oba: Japan's impact on Australian football

With more than 200 goals scored, a place in the Brentford Hall of Fame and a football career spanning over 15 years, Llyod Owusu has racked up a lifetime of achievements. But his achievements defied all odds - a child of Ghanaian migrants growing up in some of South London's toughest neighbourhoods. In the first episode of Route 26, we hear from former footballer Llyod Owusu as he reflects on what it's like to come within touching distance of the game's biggest stage, only to see it slip away in a split second. This isn't a sob story though, it's a story of resilience, identity and how life has a strange way of working out even when it doesn't go to plan.

Lloyd Owusu: The Road from South London to Ghana

Grab your bags, we're hitting Route 26! A brand new podcast from SBS Audio, Route 26 takes you on a journey through the lives of football fanatics — one World Cup story at a time. Hear from some of the game's most extraordinary fans: Llyod Owusu, Akec Makur Chuot, Craig Foster and many more — as they share the World Cup moments that changed their lives.

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Route 26